Battery clamping lugs

ABSTRACT

A battery retention system which is intended to support a conventional type of automobile battery in its rack in an automobile or truck. The retention system is made up of spaced lugs integrally attached to two opposite sides or ends by the battery case. A holddown rod is attached to each of two opposite sides of the battery rack. The lugs are spaced apart just enough to freely receive the bolts between them. Each lug has an indentation, and a rubber washer is received on each bolt. A metal washer is supported on the top of the rubber washer and the rubber washer is deformed into the notch in the lugs so that the holddown rod will not slip relative to the case. The insulation characteristics of the rubber prevents leakage of electrical current from the battery to the battery case.

United States Patent (721 inventor John H. Bauschard OREI N PATENTS 31613.23111 r 16504 556.687 4/1923 France tttt 180/68.5 [2]] Appl No818,344 401.359 11/1933 Great Britain 5. 136/171 [22] Filed Apr. 22.,1969 521,403 5/1940 Great Britain i. ISO/68.5 145] Pdu'med June PrimaryExaminer-Kenneth H. Betts Assistant Examiner-Milton L. SmithAttorney-Charles L. Lovercheck [54] M F LUGS ABSTRACT: A batteryretention system which is intended to aim, Drawing Figs.

support a conventional type of automobile battery in its rack U-S. in anautomobile or truck The retention ystem is made up of 1 362d 25/00spaced lugs integrally attached to two opposite sides or ends [50] Fieldof Search 180/68.5; by the battery case A holddown rod is attached toeach f two 181 opposite sides of the battery rack. The lugs are spacedapart 'ust enou h to freel receive the bolts between them. Each In [56]References and has an in lentatiom and a rubber washer is received oneaci i UNITED STATES PATENTS bolt. A metal washer is supported on thetop of the rubber 2,827,973 3/1958 Coleman 180/68.5 washer and therubber washer is deformed into the notch in 2,956,101 10/1960 Buhl, Jr.180/68.5UX the lugs so that the holddown rod will not slip relative tothe 3,167,458 1/ 1965 Brazell 180/68.5X case. The insulationcharacteristics of the rubber prevents 3,248,268 4/1966 Kohler 180/68.5Xleakage of electrical current from the battery to the battery 3,379,4004/1968 Bauschard 180/68.5X case.

BATTERY CLAMPING LUGS STATEMENT OF INVENTION This invention relates toclamping devices and, more particularly, to devices for holdingbatteries in battery cases in automobiles.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide animproved battery retention system for motor vehicles.

Another object'of the invention is to provide an improved batteryretention system for motor vehicles by the use of added units integrallyattached to the battery box walls, a rubber and a metal washer clampingthe lugs.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved batteryretention system utilizing integral lugs on the battery box walls, theupper surfaces being indented and adapted to have a rubber washer reston the indented surface thereby holding the battery in place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial face view of an end ora side ofa part ol'a battery supported on a battery case according tothe inventron.

FIG. 2 isa crosssectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. I with therubber washer and nut in cross section.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a battery with a masticfilled top.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the device according to the invention, showingthe rubber washer in place but the nut and rod omitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Now with more particular reference tothe drawings, one end of the battery 11 is shown having wall 5. Theother end may, of course, be symmetrical to the end shown. The batteryis ofa type familiar to those skilled in the art. The battery 11 issupported on a battery rack of the conventional type. The battery rackhas means which receive the holddown rods 9 such as, for example, holes,notches or the like, which extend upwardly and are disposed between thespaced lugs 1. Spaced lugs 1 are formed or cast integral with the end orsidewalls of the battery. The lugs are located to suit the position ofthe holddown rods. The rods 9 have the wingnut I suitably supported ontheir upper end and the wingnut rests on the metal washers 3 which inturn rest on the rubber washers 2. The rubber washers 2 are sufficientlyflexible so that they will be .deformec'l'to conform to the indent 15 inthe upper surface of the lugs l. lndent 15 has a downwardly andoutwardly sloping surface terminating in the shoulder 16 so that thewashers, in effect, form an interlocked joint in the indent whenwingnuts are tightened.

A sheet of plastic material 6 may overlie the top of the battery caseand rest on top of the battery and in the recess 17 at each end or sideof the battery to protect the top of the battery. The purpose of therecess 17 is to compensate for the thickness of sheet 6.

It will be noted that there are spaced lugs on each side or each end ofthe battery case that are engaged by the battery case by which thebattery is clamped to the battery rack.

Washer 2 has sufficient electrical insulation properties to preventleakage of electrical current from the battery to the bolts 9 and rack4.

This system is a radical departure from any former or current systems inuse. It retains, however, the holddown rod which engages the battery boxin a positive and firm manner. When the washers and nut are applied andtightened, the rubber washer will be sufficiently depressed over theflat surfaces of the lugs and battery wall to allow the undepressedrubber to occupy the trough space. This automatically pro vides a safetlock-in against any tendency of the rod to move out of the 5 ct. Then,too, the Insulation value of rubber assures no leakage of voltage.

The embodiments of the invention in which I claim an exclusive propertyor privilege are defined as follows:

1. A battery holddown device comprising a battery,

said battery having a case supported on a battery rack,

said battery case having laterally spaced lugs at each end or each sideand said spaced lugs being integrally attached to said case,

a washer having substantially the same properties of resiliency asrubber overlying each pair of said lugs,

a bolt engaging each end or each side of said battery rack and extendingupward between said lugs and through said washers and a nut on said boltclamping said washers and said battery in place,

said lugs having an indented surface on their upper side,

said indent slopes outwardly and downwardly and terminates in agenerally vertical inwardly facing shoulder,

said rubber washer is compressed by said nut and thereby deformed toconform to the shape of said indent, thus locking said rod in firmposition,

said battery case has a recess adjacent each pair of said lugs,

a sheet of material overlying said battery and terminating in saidrecess,

said rubber washer overlying said sheet and holding said sheet in place.

1. A battery holddown device comprising a battery, said battery having acase supported on a battery rack, said battery case having laterallyspaced lugs at each end or each side and said spaced lugs beingintegrally attached to said case, a washer having substantially the sameproperties of resiliency as rubber overlying each pair of said lugs, abolt engaging each end or each side of said battery rack and extendingupward between said lugs and through said washers and a nut on said boltclamping said washers and said battery in place, said lugs having anindented surface on their upper side, said indent slopes outwardly anddownwardly and terminates in a generally vertical inwardly facingshoulder, said rubber washer is compressed by said nut and therebydeformed to conform to the shape of said indent, thus locking said rodin firm position, said battery case has a recess adjacent each pair ofsaid lugs, a sheet of material overlying said battery and terminating insaid recess, said rubber washer overlying said sheet and holding saidsheet in place.